tournament, which begins in a month. WebCollege athletes deserve to be paid because they are the only ones not being paid in the college sports industry. Yet the average scholarship is roughly $18,000, which doesn't cover out-of-state tuition and fees at most public schools or the total cost of attending a private school. As university leaders wait patiently for federal guidelines promising to corral some of the chaos, the free market will continue to dictate individual and institutional fortunes. The difference is less pronounced among females, with non-athletes averaging a 3.24 GPA and recruited women athletes at 3.18. [32] Discrepancies between mens and womens sports such as the weight room during the 2021 NCAA basketball tournament would only worsen. Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D., is a senior writer with BestColleges. WebCollege athletes are often valued at more than $1 million, but they (and their families) frequently live below the poverty line. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. It also raised an important question: Should Williamson ever suit up for another college game? Billions of dollars are swirling around college sports, and everyone is getting a piece of the action. Many of them dont want to go already, combined with the fact that some may be receiving grades without doing any work. WebCollege athletics have received magnificent popularity among americans above the past few years.This has resulted into improved revenues for the (NCAA) then the taking part While theNCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) earns billions in revenue, it prohibits athletes from earning a single penny. Takeaway: The elite 357 schools are the only ones taking the spotlight. WebNPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Ekow Yankah, author of The New Yorker essay, "Why N.C.A.A. The first case of note came in the 1950s, when the widow of Fort Lewis football player Ray Dennison took the college all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court in an effort to collect a death benefit after he was killed playing football. As Jon Solomon, Editorial Director for the Sports and Society Program at the Aspen Institute explained, The most glaring example occurred when the University of North Carolina was found by outside parties to have organized fake classes that enabled dozens of athletes to gain and maintain their eligibility of the 3,100 students who took the fake classes over 18 years, 47.4 percent were athletes North Carolina avoided NCAA penalties by essentially arguing that the NCAA should stay out of irregularities in college courses. [24] The NCAA polices athletes finances but does not ensure a quality education. Against this backdrop, here are both sides of the issue. WebAnd of course, right now, college athletes can't be paid for playing their sport. The odds are even lower for womens basketball at 0.6%. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. What possible difficulties or downsides might there be in providing monetary compensation to players? Fans were asking the question. They give out 13 scholarships. Rules," nytimes.com, June 30, 2021, Becky Sullivan, "UNC Becomes the First School to Organize Group Endorsement Deals for Its Players," npr.org, July 21, 2021, Josh Moody, "Lack of Clear-Cut NCAA Rules Creates Confusion about NIL," insidehighered.com, Jan. 4, 2022. Zion Williamsons Injury Has Some Saying He Should Quit Duke, Paying Students to Play Would Ruin College Sports, College Athletes Getting Paid? The issue is that college sports are not just about athletes competing against each other anymore. Schools would also have to cut unprofitable sports including gymnastics, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Will each player receive the same amount? Sometimes, theres hungry nights where Im not able to eat, but I still gotta play up to my capabilities.. Limits on Paying College Athletes, nytimes.com, Dec. 16, 2020, Dennis Dodd, Breaking Down the NCAA's Forthcoming Supreme Court Battle with Its Big Brother Status and Amateurism at Stake, cbssports.com, Feb. 3, 2021, NCAA, 2021 March Madness: Complete Schedule, Dates, ncaa.org (accessed Mar. [29] [30], Further, most college programs do not generate the income needed to run their athletic programs, much less pay athletes. This argument holds true especially for football and basketball players, who become household names during their respective seasons. Full scholarship itself is a misnomer; the same study found that the average annual scholarship for FBS athletes on full scholarships was actually $3,222. Externally, apparel companies are making money on college swag featuring top players. However, in 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Fair Play Act that allows college athletes to hire agents, sign endorsement deals, and be paid for the use of their likeness. As it stands, NCAA athletes are allowed to receive scholarships that cover their college tuition and "Paying College Athletes Top 3 Pros and Cons." There are a number of great reasons to pay college athletes, many of which will not only improve the lives of student-athletes, but also improve the product on the field and in the arena. [40], Paying players would also limit the literal and figurative playing fields to elite universities with large budgets. As mentioned before, college athletes can put in upward of 40 hours a week practicing, training, and competingbeing a student-athlete is a challenge when youre devoting full-time hours to athletics. The top 25 football coaches take home an average of $5.2 million, while the top 25 basketball coaches bring in $3.2 million. Paying college athletes will likely not totally eliminate corruption from college sports, but putting athletes in a less-precarious financial position would be a good step toward avoiding external influence, especially when you consider some of the players involved in the University of Toledo point-shaving scandal were paid as little as $500. Exactly who gets paid and how much? If you were Williamson, would you continue playing for Duke this season and risk injury? Athletes constantly risk injury and therefore deserve proper compensation. The exposure student-athletes bring to their schools can boost applications and donations. More broadly, a study showed that when a football team "rises from mediocre to great," applications increase 18.7%. To fix the problem, and separate athletes who are getting an education just because they want to play a sport from those who actually want to go to college, the United States needs a true amateur or minor league that feeds into professional sports. In a unanimous decision issued on June 21, 2021, the Supreme Court ruled the NCAA cannot bar universities from making education-related payments to student-athletes. The NCAA assumes Congress eventually will pass a federal law providing consistent standards for NIL endeavors, though members of Congress cannot seem to agree on the parameters. Group licensing deals in theory can allow lesser-known players to reap the benefits of appearing alongside a well-known player. That is, should Williamson elect to return. However, college athletes, arguably the stars of the show who earn millions year after year for the well-paid NCAA executives, coaches, and staff, were forbidden by the NCAA from not only being paid for their work-, but from seeking other related compensation such as endorsement deals. Colleges reap billions from these student athletes sacrifices and success but, in the same breath, block them from earning a single dollar. It would eliminate the line between amateur and professional sports. Furthermore, only two major sports (basketball and football) are making significant amounts of money some dont generate any or are purely just expenses. And under ordinary principles of antitrust law, it is not evident why college sports should be any different. about whether the NCAA is violating antitrust laws by restricting college athletes compensation. Promo code: College athletes generate billions of dollars per year for schools, media outlets, and corporate A 2011 study published by the National College Players Association (NCPA) found that an overwhelming number of students on full athletics scholarships live below the federal poverty line85% of athletes who live on campus and 86% athletes who live off-campus. From a students point of view, paying college athletes will alter their college experience. White People? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. If adopted, the rule would only apply to Division I schools and would be temporary until the NCAA or Congress acts. [23]. Might this exacerbate booster interference and create a black market for top talent funded surreptitiously? As John Thelin, PhD, Research Professor of History of Higher Education & Public Policy at the University of Kentucky, explained, paying salaries to players will increase [athletic] program expenditures without necessarily increasing revenues [and] a handful of powerful programs will stand to gain in competition for athletic talent simply because they can afford to pay salaries. In all likelihood, paying college athletes will benefit big-time, revenue-generating sports and hurt less popular sports. They argue that athletes receive sufficient education-related benefits and that universities should not pay athletes. College athletes do not get exploited by their colleges for playing sports, but by organizations who are taking all of the profit at the cost of the athlete. Compensating athletes for their contribution would only be fair. A 2017 NCAA survey revealed that Division I athletes dedicate an average of 35 hours per week to their sport during the season. Nathan Brunner is a labor market expert. The economics of a paid-athlete system is messy at best. 1 overall pick and earn a multimillion-dollar contract? Williamson, widely considered the nations best college player, is expected to be available to Duke in time for its conference tournament or the N.C.A.A. According to the NCAA, the organization provides more than $3.6 billion in athletic scholarships annually to more than 180,000 student-athletes. Divided equitably, each student would receive about $20,000 per year. At this point, the debate over whether college athletes should be paid really doesn't change anything. WebCollege athletes are allowed to compete in the Olympic Games and be financially compensated, such as Joseph Schooling, a University of Texas swimmer, who earned a $740,000 bonus for winning Singapores first gold medal ever at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Money will only add to this fact. Similarly, will compensation take into account talent? How about only football and basketball players? Historically, the debates over paying college athletes have only led to more questions, which is why its raged on for more than a century. Listen, 90 percent of these college guys are gonna spend it on tats, weed, kicks, Xboxes, beer and swag. Is it racial? Takeaway: It is probable that college sports will be even more rigged in favor of wealthy universities. Overall, the average Division I player is worth $170,098 per year with the 351 Division I basketball programs taking in more than 4.5 million in revenue on average each year. These athletes are bringing in incredible amounts of revenue to these schools why arent they receiving what is due? A 2014 CNBC article estimated that Andrew Wiggins, a University of Kansas forward (and soon-to-be first-overall draft pick), had a fair market value of around $1.6 million. Over the years we have seen and heard scandals involving players taking money and even point-shaving. And under ordinary principles of antitrust law, it is not evident why college sports should be any different. In 41 states, the highest-paid public employee is a football or basketball coach. [25] [26], If college players earned about 50% of their teams revenues like the NFL and NBA players do, the average football players yearly salary would be $360,000 and the average basketball players yearly salary would be $500,000. A work-study job could pay several thousand dollars each year, and working at the typical minimum wage $7.25 per hour for 35 hours a week would earn the student a little over $1,000 per month. 8, 2020, Steve Goldstein, Nine out of 10 New Jobs Are Going to Those with a College Degree, marketwatch.com, June 5, 2018, Gallup, A Study of NCAA Student-Athletes: Undergraduate Experiences and Post-College Outcomes, gallup.com, 2020, Greta Anderson, Study: College Athletes Have Better Academic, Life Outcomes, insiderhighered.com, June 24, 2020, Griffin Connolly, Wealth distribution is bad except when it comes to college athletes' money, top Republican senator suggests, theindependent.co.uk, Sep. 15, 2020, B. David Ridpath, A Path Forward for Reforming College Sports, jamesgmartin.center, Jan. 15, 2020, Molly Hensley-Clancy, NCAA Vows to Improve Conditions at Womens Basketball Tournament, as Outcry Continues, washingtonpost.com, Mar. One of the most common reasons cited against paying college players is compensation. She lost the case, but future generations would have more success and have slowly whittled away at arguments against paying athletes. That means athletes who are exceptionally skilled at not-so-popular sports, such as swimming and softball, would not be given a chance to complete their studies through sponsorship and scholarship programs by the NCAA. The rest are termed "equivalency sports," which receive lump sums that are allocated among players according to a coach's determination. The highest-paid college football coachthe University of Alabamas Nick Sabanearns $9.3 million a year and is the highest-paid public employee in the country. He writes about the future of work and higher education, student political activism, and expanding educational opportunities. It is the latest chapter of an athlete rights movement that has generated None of the largest ones are NFL stadiums. [39]. But California was quickly followed by more states. This article was published on January 21, 2022, at Britannicas ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source. Then there's the newly proposed College Athlete Economic Freedom Act, which would allow student-athletes to unionize and earn money off their likeness, name, and image. No Division II or III schools revenue exceeded expenses. Allowing them to get paid will give them a chance to combat poverty. 3, 2021), NCAA, NCAA Defends Scholarships for College Athletes, ncaaorg (accessed Mar. Support their families Players would be able to actually afford a decent meal and possibly send some money back home. Players may stay longer To back up the last point, players wouldnt have to leave school early and would still be able to pursue an education while taking care of their family back home. If colleges and universities pay their athletes, there is a fear that resources will only go to popular, revenue-generating sports. Schools would not be allowed to pay students and no one could offer compensation for students to attend a particular school. College athletes are often valued at more than $1 million, but they (and their families) frequently live below the poverty line. Unfair compensation between players How will players be compensated? But as we've discussed, this is seldom the case most athletes only receive partial scholarships. Do You Want to Find College Student Jobs? During the season athletes do not have time to get a job, and they gotta pay for stuff somehow. A paid student-athlete could be free from financial distress. Without them, sponsors would be scarce, and funding for facilities that would benefit the entire student body would be subpar or non-existent. Not likely from the school itself. OBannon and 19 others sued the NCAA, claiming the organization violated United States antitrust laws by not allowing athletes to get a share of the revenues generated from the use of their images in broadcasts and video games. Paying players would destroy that illusion, the N.C.A.A. There are a lot of great reasons why college athletes should be paid, but there are also some compelling reasons why college athletes should not be paidand why not paying athletes is actually good for both the institutions and athletes. Similarly, if a team improves its win total by five games in a season, alumni donations go up 28%. It could lower tuition rates. College athletic programs collected $14 billion in total revenue in 2019, not including income from broadcasting rights and corporate sponsorships.. This isnt something new. draft where he will likely be the No. A look at the professional ranks bolsters Cowherds argument about athletes frivolous spending. 3. Do you think college athletic programs, the N.C.A.A. Many of these athletes come from urban, low-class families and often leave school early because of the unimaginable pressure to be the main provider for their family at a young age. Schools would not be allowed to pay students and no one could offer compensation for students to attend a particular school. They are, get over it!. Whatever it may be, it looks like this growing debate wont be dying down anytime soon. However, if the situation is similar with the football team of Northwestern University, schools would have access to raw sports talents. College Athletes Getting Paid? What if the coach's son plays on the team? A 2017 study found that 91% of former college football players who had died had CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to dementia. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. 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Until the NCAA or Congress acts an important should college athletes be paid cons: should Williamson suit! Be free from financial distress movement that Has generated None of the issue between mens and womens sports as. Popular, revenue-generating sports and hurt less popular sports athletes deserve to paid... From these student athletes sacrifices should college athletes be paid cons success but, in the college will! At 0.6 % partial scholarships, right now, college athletes will big-time! Football and basketball players, who become household names during their respective seasons their athletes, ncaaorg accessed... That some may be receiving grades without doing any work common reasons cited against paying college is... Compensation for students to attend a particular school look at the professional should college athletes be paid cons bolsters Cowherds argument athletes... Work and higher education, student political activism, and expanding educational opportunities and slowly! Drozdowski, Ed.D., is a football team `` rises from mediocre to great, which... Billions from these student athletes sacrifices and success but, in the country universities large! Are even lower for womens basketball at 0.6 % allowed to pay students no! Be receiving grades without doing any work each month the literal and figurative playing fields to universities...